But Hee Was Displeas'd At My Counsill,
Saying Hee Knew Better What To Doe Than I Could Tell Him.
That might bee,
said I, but not in the Indians' country, where I had ben more frequent than
he.
However, hee desired me to send him som refreshments from time to time
during the winter season, espetially some oyle & candles, of which hee
stood in great want, which I promis'd to doe, & perform'd accordingly. Hee
made me present of a peece of Beeff & a few Bisketts. Being fully inform'd
of what I desired to know, & that I need not feare any harm these Gentlemen
could doe me in regard of my trade, I took leave of the Captain, to goe see
what passed on behalf of the new England Interloper.
I arrived there next day in the afternoon, & found they had employ'd the
time better than the others had don, having built a Fort, well fortifyed
with 6 great Gunns mounted. I fired a musket to give notice unto those in
the Fort of my coming, & I landed on a litle beach under the Gunns. The
lieutenant came out with another man well arm'd to see what wee were. When
hee see me hee congratulated my safe return, & asked what news. I told him
I had found, though with great difficulty, what I sought after, & that I
came to visit them, having taken other men than those I had before; that
one of those with me was captain of the shipp lately arrived, & the other 4
were of Cannada. The Lieutenant answer'd me very briskly: "Were they 40
Devills wee will not feare. Wee have built a Fort, & doe fear nothing." Yet
hee invited mee into his Fort to treat me, provided I would go in alone,
which I refused, intimating hee might have spoke with more modesty, coming
to visit him in friendship & good will, & not in a hostile manner. I told
him also I desired to discours with his Captain, who doubtless would have
more moderation. Wherupon he sent to inform the Captain, who came unto me
well armed, & told me that I need not bee jealous of the Fort hee had
caused to bee built, that 'twas no prejudice to me, & that I should at any
time comand it, adding withall that hee feared me not so much as hee did
the English of London, & that hee built this fort to defend himself against
the Salvages, & all thos that would attack him. I thank'd him for his
civillitys unto me, & assur'd him I came not thither to shew any displesure
for his building a fort, but to offer him 20 of my men to assist him, & to
tell him that thos hee so much feared were arrived, offering my servis to
defend him, telling him if hee would follow my consill I would defend him
from all danger, knowing very well the Orders these new comers had, & also
what condition they were in. I also told him that as to the difference
which was betwixt us about the trade, it was referr'd unto the arbitrement
of both our Kings; that for good luck to him, his father comanded the shipp
newly arrived; that he brought a Governor for the English Company, whom I
intended to hinder from assuming that Title in the Countrys wherin I was
established for the french company, & as for his part, I would make him
pass for a french man, therby to keep him from receaving any dammadge.
Having said thes things to the Captain of the fort, I made him call his men
together, unto whom I gave a charge in his presence that they should not
goe out of their fort, nor fire any Gunns, nor shew their cullers; that
they should cover the head & stern of their shipp; & that they should
suffer neither ffrench nor English to come near their fort, neither by land
nor by Water, & that they should fier on any of my people as would offer to
approach without my orders. The Captain promis'd all should bee observ'd
that I had said, & comanded his men in my presence so to doe, desiring me
to spare him 2 of my men as soon as I could, to guard them. I told him that
his father, Captain of the Company's shipp, was sick, wherat hee seem'd to
bee much trobled, & desired me to put him in a way to see him without any
damadge. I told him the danger & difficulty of it; nevertheless, having
privat reasons that this enterview of Father & Sonn might be procur'd by my
means, I told him I would use my best endeavor to give him this
satisfaction, & that I hop'd to effect it, provided hee would follow my
directions. Hee agreed to doe what I advised, & after some litle studdy wee
agreed that hee should come along with me disguis'd like one that lived in
the woods, & that I wold make him passe for a french man. This being
concluded, I sent my men next morning early to kill some fowle. They
returned by 10 o'clocke with 30 or 40 Partridge, which I took into my
canoo, with a Barrill of Oyle & some candles that I had promis'd the old
Captain Guillem. I left one of my men hostage in the fort, and imbarked
with young Guillem to goe shew him his father. The tyde being low, wee were
forced to stop a mile short of the shipp, & goe ashore & walk up towards
the shipp with our provisions. I left one of my men to keepe the Canoo,
with orders to keep off, & coming neere the shipp I placed 2 of my best men
betwixt the House Mr. Bridgar caus'd to bee built & the water side,
comanding them not to shew themselves, & to suffer the Governor to goe to
the vessell, but to seize him if they see him come back before I was got
out of the shipp.
Having ordered things in this manner, I went with one of my men & young
Guillem aboard the shipp, where wee againe entered without any opposition.
I presented unto Captain Guillem the Provisions I had brought him, for
which hee gave me thanks.
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